De facto Abkhaz, Belarusian officials sign agreement on further cooperation amidst rumors of recognition

Belarusian and de-facto Abkhaz officials met in Minsk, Belarus earlier today amidst rumors that Belarus intends to recognise the independence of Abkhazia. 

The de-facto Education Minister of Georgia’s Russia-occupied Abkhazia Inal Gablia and Security Council Deputy Secretary Daur Kove met with the Chair of Belaya Rus Alexander Shatko in Minsk where a preliminary agreement ‘to implement joint projects to bring civil societies of the two countries closer together’, Ekho Kavkaza reports.

Ekho Kavkaza also reported that following the official meeting, Gablia expressed gratitude to Lukashenko and other Belarusian officials who are ‘helping to promote Abkhazia in the international arena.’

• Georgian MFA: Russian reports on Belarus recognising Georgia’s occupied regions are ‘disinformation’

In the middle of November, reports started to appear on Russian Telegram channels claiming that Belarus was going to recognize the sovereignty of Abkhazia. The Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said at the time that the Russian telegram channels were spreading disinformation.

The Belarusian side also said the reports were ‘fake news’ and denied any attempt of the Belarusian authorities to consider the recognition of the independence of Georgia’s occupied territories.